Culture: Developing team culture and standards has been player-driven rather than head coach or manager driven. This ensures a stronger bond between the players themselves

Set-piece: Winning quality ball from scrum and lineout has been a huge focus - coaches were brought in to address this: Alan Muir (NZ) and Frans Ludeke(South Africa)

Discipline: They've looked at the penalties they conceded during the PNC that allowed opposition teams back into matches and have an aim to keep it to low (~10 per match)

Nutrition: They want the diet to be interesting but not so bland as to bore the players. One-day a week for dessert allowance, lots of fruit.

Fat-testing: takes place each day to ensure they're all on track and heading towards their goal

Drinking: Alcohol and kava ban has been put in place during the RWC. Can't police everyone but they trust each player to prepare themselves as best they can

Pool of Death: Focus on performance rather than opposition. Belief in a gameplan that can take on anyone. Coaches have done homework on opposition. 4 games, 320mins of rugby, be consistent across all the games and ensure that the mental approach is maintained.

Having 2-months together has given the team great belief and they're very motivated to deliver.

Once again, a reference to '10 tier 2 countries,' but we thought there were only 8

The Chief Executive Officer (C.E.O) of World Rugby, Brett Gosper, has controversially dismissed allegations his organisation is not doing enough to assist tier-two nations like Samoa.

Grumbles about the plight of the 10 second-tier countries, especially the Pacific Island nations of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, have increased in the lead-up to the World Cup in England and Wales.

But Mr. Gosper says those concerns are unfounded.

Former Manu Samoa lock, Daniel Leo and International Rugby Players' Association boss, Rob Nichol, have been among the most vocal when calling out World Rugby on a variety of issues, including the topic of European clubs putting pressure on Pacific Islanders to make themselves unavailable for tests, compensation and allocating Samoa, Fiji and Tonga test matches on home soil.

Census Johnston, who recently joined Samoa for their World Cup campaign because prop Logovi'i Mulipola was injured, has joined Leo in saying players are put under pressure by their clubs to skip the World Cup.

Gosper, speaking at a World Rugby media conference in the lead-up to England facing Fiji in the opening World Cup match in London on Saturday, boasted the tournament is set to make a profit of around NZ$361 million. He noted World Rugby had invested £16 million in the Pacific Islands over the last four years.

That included developing high performance centres, grooming specialist coaches and assisting with governance issues. Many insiders say that is not nearly enough. They reckon World Rugby's reluctance to do more for tier-two nations is the elephant in the room.

Leo has stated the Pacific Nations Championship, which features six tier-two countries, benefits lower ranked teams Japan, United States and Canada more than the Pacific Island sides.

The best way forward for Pacific Island rugby is for them to play more meaningful games, more often. That, in turn, would encourage more of their players to make themselves available and strengthen their team.

But Mr. Gosper, having also noted World Rugby has pumped £53 million into the 10 tier-two countries over the last four years, doesn't see it that way.

"Yes, we do believe we are doing everything we can with the available money that we do have to invest in that region and tier-two countries in particular."

On the issue of clubs refusing to offer contracts unless Pacific Island players agree to make themselves unavailable for the World Cup, Mr. Gosper was firm in his belief that no such problem existed.

"We don't believe that clubs are holding the players," he said. "We have not had any cases brought to our attention where clubs are holding the players and if that is the case we are very successful at changing the situation.

"If you have any information that we don't, you are very welcome to forward it."

When it was put to him that it was naive to think players would jeopardise their livelihood by dobbing in their clubs to World Rugby, Mr. Gosper remained sceptical.

"If there are any incidents of that, and it is true it is very hard to detect in some corners, we think they will be quite exceptional. It is true that there are players who take an economic view of their situation. It is very hard to detect.

"But generally our feeling is that is the case in very few situations in this World Cup."

World Rugby should do more to compensate players from smaller unions, maintaining that players are taking a financial hit just to play in the World Cup.

Mr. Gosper said that wasn't World Rugby's problem: "We deal through our unions to ensure their players are well looked after as best they possibly can. We are not in the business of paying players directly from World Rugby. It is not our role."

The real elephant in the room is that the PI players are 100% free to choose clubs/money or country.

Should world rugby supplement their wages? IMO no but their unions should get a bigger slice of the pie especially considering the 10 tier 1 nations are getting £7.5m each for missing out on match income during the world cup. It dwarfs the £53m over four years that the 10 tier 2 nations get.

Tusi Pisi and Kahn Fotuali'i are getting a lot of criticism in the samoan rugby forums for kicking too much ball away and out on the full in the win over the US.

I think our lineouts were substandard. We cannot afford to have sloppy lineout ball against the other nations in the pool.

I also think that there wasn't enough accuracy from our backs. Perhaps it was because of first game jitters but it is not a great sight.

However regardless of all of that, a win is a win and ANY win in this pool of death (that it has become since Japan beat SA) is welcome news. This was a particularly dangerous US team, who held Australia close for 70mins a few weeks ago, so to get a win over them is good news.

Now, what to do about south africa. I think we should put a "B" team up against the springboks. There is no point having our key players bashed up and possibly injured in a match which will see a desperate south african team out to prove a point. Our key target games must be Scotland and Japan now. If we win those matches, I think it will be enough to get to the quarter-finals.

Petelo wrote:Tusi Pisi and Kahn Fotuali'i are getting a lot of criticism in the samoan rugby forums for kicking too much ball away and out on the full in the win over the US.

I think our lineouts were substandard. We cannot afford to have sloppy lineout ball against the other nations in the pool.

I also think that there wasn't enough accuracy from our backs. Perhaps it was because of first game jitters but it is not a great sight.

However regardless of all of that, a win is a win and ANY win in this pool of death (that it has become since Japan beat SA) is welcome news. This was a particularly dangerous US team, who held Australia close for 70mins a few weeks ago, so to get a win over them is good news.

Now, what to do about south africa. I think we should put a "B" team up against the springboks. There is no point having our key players bashed up and possibly injured in a match which will see a desperate south african team out to prove a point. Our key target games must be Scotland and Japan now. If we win those matches, I think it will be enough to get to the quarter-finals.

That would be really sad if that were to happen, I would like to think Samoa have looked at that game and think they could beat them too, it would be awful to almost forfeit a match like this, it would be bringing SA right back into the mix. If you did go out and beat them it would almost eliminate them and mean the two qualification spots would come down to a shoot out between 3 teams, Samoa, Japan and Scotland. And surely with 2 wins already under your belts you would fancy your chances

Petelo wrote:Now, what to do about south africa. I think we should put a "B" team up against the springboks. There is no point having our key players bashed up and possibly injured in a match which will see a desperate south african team out to prove a point. Our key target games must be Scotland and Japan now. If we win those matches, I think it will be enough to get to the quarter-finals.

That would be really sad if that were to happen, I would like to think Samoa have looked at that game and think they could beat them too, it would be awful to almost forfeit a match like this, it would be bringing SA right back into the mix. If you did go out and beat them it would almost eliminate them and mean the two qualification spots would come down to a shoot out between 3 teams, Samoa, Japan and Scotland. And surely with 2 wins already under your belts you would fancy your chances

I don't think Betham will put out a B team.

I guess the reason why I posed this strategy is that the aim is to get to the quarter-finals. Not really to beat South Africa as such. If it was South Africa in a knockout match, well I would back our boys as anything could happen in a knockout match. The pressure is usually on the more favoured team and pressure does funny thing to people. However this is a pool match. One where our key players could easily get injured (like Tusi Pisi got injured against Namibia and missed the crucial Wales match in the last world cup).

Samoa has not got to the quarter-finals since 1995 and I (as a fan) am desperate to see them advance. Fiji and Scotland did the same strategy in 2007 and it worked well for them. Fiji put out a B team against Australia, got roasted, but they ended up beating Wales and then went on to almost do a number on South Africa in the quarter-final. Scotland put out a B team against the All Blacks and concentrated on the Italy match, which they won, to advance to the quarter-finals.

Samoa need to improve their kicking out of hand dramatically (still as poor as it was against the Barbarians) and prepare for a very angry and desperate Springbok outfit — this means discipline and patience when periods of pressure come (which they will) and to give total focus on the accuracy of their tackles (see first half of Argentina vs NZ for a template). Speed of the players in support of the ball carriers will be of paramount importance if they wish to get a hold in the game, perhaps that is why they have opted for Lam and Ioane in the loose. I would target Jean de Villiers in the 13-channel with Tuilagi and Treviranus ball-carrying for the easiest yards in the backline and with the best chance of securing possession away from the primary jackaling threat of Francois Louw. The lineout threat of Victor Matfield will be down to good reads and whether they can beat him with speed on the ground (for an insight into his lineout mindset, watch this), so watch the speed of Tekori and Paulo's movement (plus lifters) for an indicator of success. Tim Nanai-Williams can expect an array of high-balls coming his way tomorrow so his wingers and flankers need to help him out as best they can to diffuse any threats.

I'm expecting a hugely physical battle and if Samoa hold their nerve, focus on total accuracy across the park, keep the score within touching distance, their belief will grow as the match unfolds.

Samoa must be able to operate in an environment starved of possession.

Stanley cannot afford to be wasteful with the ball. Every kick he makes must count for something - whether it is to get the ball in front of our wingers, or to simply relieve pressure. Every touch finder he goes for must make touch. We cannot afford any missed touch finders or any balls out on the full.

The forwards must simply hold the fort at set pieces. They won't be able to out-muscle the African pack but they must at least win their own ball in the lineouts and scrums. Here they must be innovative. As soon as they become predictable, the likes of Victor Matfield will steal their ball (just like what happened all day in 2007).

Any idea why Kane Thompson isn't named? He's done his two match suspension. Not a fan of Levave covering lock off the bench, especially against the Springboks.

Our midfielders will need to get their defense sorted for this match, or it could be a long night. Lee-Lo in particular was very poor against the USA - he made a couple of very poor reads and missed some straight up tackles. Perez missed a couple, but in most games I've seen him, his defense is normally very good. It's Lee-Lo's urge to jam in that is the biggest problem with the midfield defense.

I'm not keen on Tuilagi for this game - every time he plays against the Boks, he gets totally exposed. Frankly, he tends to help the Springboks out more than he helps us. Autagavaia is probably better suited for a game against the Boks than Tuilagi is.

If Samoa are smart they'll use that to their advantage. Let South Africa wear themselves out trying to 'send a message', hold them out, then go for the kill. Springboks risk letting pride get the better of them for this match. There's blood in the water here.

Maybe Betham thinks Thompson is too much of a hot head. If he thinks this, then he should introduce himself to Iosefa Tekori. Even more of a liability for red cards/yellow cards.

Also agree on A. Tuilagi. Willie Le Roux completely ran circles around him the last time they met in 2013.

Yes, Census is correct:

That was the first piece of foul play I've seen from Thompson, so it'd be a poor call by Betham if he didn't name him because of a one off incident.

Also, don't forget Tuilagi's red card after we were just starting to work our way back into the match. On defense, Tuilagi was jamming in off his wing all game and got none of them right. Midfielders and fullbacks must hate having to cover him for his lack of discipline to stay within the defensive structure.

Petelo wrote:I am so disappointed in our kaea forwards. Especially that hurricanes hooker whose name I too angry to mention at the moment.

Betham was interviewed afterwards and barely acknowledged the set pieces that needed working on. That was the whole reason why our team didn't even have a chance. The lineout was disaster.

Have to agree, Samoa were outplayed thoroughly in the set-pieces.

Scrums: Had a dominant scrum or two but the rest were indifferent and had little bearing overall.Kick-restarts: Handed the ball over on a platter which they secured and cleared with easeLineouts: OK when SA did not contest (i.e. once or twice) but boy did they have a field day not only on our ball but also on their own where we defaulted to not contesting and tried instead to drive them back poorly, a clearer sign as any that we had absolutely no idea how to contest their throws. Makes the non-selection of Kane Thompson, their go-to lineout forward all the more frustrating and poorly thought out.

At the breakdown, the loosies gave it a fair shake and they surprisingly won enough possession to make a game of it, I thought. It was the mountain of skill-errors which brought the whole attacking-structure crumbling down. From missed touch-finders, to sloppy catch-pass skills - it really was amateur-hour rugby and made for painful viewing.

The result, actually no, the performance, just reiterated an observation from an earlier post — Samoa's coaching just isn't up to scratch for test level, the players are winging it on a hope and prayer and have mixed ideas themselves about how they should be playing. To go within a whisker of turning S Africa over in 2011 (a 5-13 loss) with proper coaching and tactical nous, to a 6-46 drubbing in 2015, shines a big, gigantic spotlight on the coaching team, development processes and think-tank running the Manu Samoa.

Betham now has two games to save face with this team. With the excuses of off-field distractions, corruption, unfair schedules, etc, etc now seemingly settled or non-issues, they are well overdue a top-level performance which justifies all the constant whinging, constant promises and constant selfies coming out of the camp!

PS. I thought A.Tuilagi and O.Treviranus could be a point of difference in this match how I was wrong judging from this match performance. They come across as flat-track bullies when they come against the big-boys — either getting found out technically or by going missing for large parts of the match. Tuilagi's decision-making is just of the poorest order when up against the big boys, opting to carry selfishly when the pass was on, or to mouth-off to the ref when cool heads were required. Treviranus just seemed ponderous to me and was gobbled up by the Springboks big men who were able to contain him without much issue at all.

PPS. Personally, as a fan, I hope to be constructively critical rather than just hanging them by the neck for losing. Performance is the only thing that I measure by and I am willing to give them the next two crunch games to redeem themselves and prove me wrong before I feel like I am falling out of love with them.

We really do have a lot of problems in the side at the moment. We lack go forward, Matu'u is a shocking thrower yet somehow gets picked, Treviranus shouldn't be starting let alone captaining the side, his brother is missing big time in that midfield where Rey Lee-lo doesn't look international standard, half the side is also well over the hill.

Why did we hire Alama Ieremia as attack/backline coach? We were tracking well on attack without him. We hire him at the end of 2013 and our attack suddenly becomes predictable and clueless. With the talent we he have in this team, we shouldn't be this bad on attack

I'm surprised how poor Treviranus has been this year, as he is normally one of our more consistent performers in past seasons. I am disappointed in how he captained in this match too - he was way too conservative(Tuilagi was the same when he captained in the PNC).

I knew Tuilagi would look hopeless against the Boks. A good coach should know which players don't fit the opposition, and Tuilagi would be one of the easier type of players for the Boks to manage. He was a non-event in his first two World Cups, now he's 34 and we're expecting him to do something? The only good World Cup game he has played was against Namibia in 2011, the lowest ranked team at that RWC(?). He has too many holes in his game to be a consistent Test winger.

Tuilagi is only in the team on his last name. A proper coach would've dropped him years ago. He showed some spark in the PNC this year, but so far in this world cup, as in all previous world cups, he has been a waste of space.

This is going to be a huge game. A solid win for Samoa could set them on the path for an almighty clash v. Scotland with a reasonable degree of confidence. But the Japanese will be determined to show their stunning victory over South Africa was no flash in the pan...

Manu Samoa coach, Stephen Betham, has defended his playing squad for tomorrow morning’s must-win game against Japan at the Rugby World Cup.

Copping plenty of flak for excluding loose forwards Alafoti Faosiliva and Maurie Fa’asavalu, Betham said it’s unfortunate that not everyone can be selected.

“Experience was kind of a factor but we have gone on form mostly,” he said.

“Whoever is in the best form has been given the nod by me.”

After the team was announced yesterday morning, many fans have criticised the selection.

While most of the criticisms are about the non-selection of Faosiliva who was electric for Samoa against the All Blacks, some people have also questioned the decision to continue to play captain Ofisa Treviranus when his form has not been the best.

A former Manu Samoa player who spoke to the Weekend Observer yesterday on the condition of anonymity also questioned the decision to play Alesana Tuilagi.

“With due respect to these players, when they are not performing, it is the natural thing to take them off, isn’t it?” the former player said.

“I would’ve liked to see Paul Perez move to the wing and bring in George Pisi who can organise the midfield.

“Why can’t we have Fa’atoina Autagavaia on the wing instead of Ken Pisi. That’s another guy who hasn't been performing.”

The former player said it’s sad the coaching staff are still tinkling with the team.

“My thoughts go back to the Pacific Nations Cup,” he said. “Why didn't they take the World Cup team to the Pacific Nations Cup? Many of the players need to match fitness. They don't have it.

“Someone like Kane (Thompson) for example hasn’t played for the past three weeks. He’s a great player but match fitness is a different story.”

The former player who had represented Samoa at two Rugby World Cups said by continuing to change the teams, the coaches are not giving the players a platform to win.

“This is the World Cup,” he said. “You don't use this tournament to test players.

You get one chance at it and you better hope you make the right decisions. I hope and I pray that we can beat Japan.”

Yesterday, Betham said the selection of the team has been difficult.

“Unfortunately we cannot pick everyone but I am confident we have picked the right team for Sunday.”

Among five changes made to the team crushed by South Africa last week sees the return of lock, Kane Thompson.

Thompson missed the first game of the tournament due to a suspension but was not selected last week at all.

This time, Betham has named Thompson in the starting line-up for the crucial Pool B clash with Japan at Stadium MK. He will be pairing up with Teofilo Paulo.

"Kane has been hungry to go,” Betham said. “He’s waited for his chance and he’s been given it for this Saturday. We have welcomed him back with open arms."

The 33-year-old has played at RWC 2007 and 2011, and his experience could prove decisive in a match where both teams are locked on four points (one win and one loss).

“It’s do or die for both teams and I’m sure they are feeling what we are feeling.

It's backs against the wall for both teams and whoever wins will have a great shot at making the quarter-finals.

It is Samoa's most experienced test side ever, with the starting XV boasting 346 caps.

“After reviewing our loss to South Africa, we were able to find some really positive aspects to our game – it can be easy to overlook these in the face of a very clinical Springboks side,” he said.

“ We’ve also identified the areas where we needed a boost.

“This week has definitely been the most difficult week in terms of selections. “We have some very experienced, and very capable players – but in the end you can’t select everyone.

“We’ve selected the team that we believe has the best combination of skills, strength and experience to deliver us the results we are looking for against Japan.

“We have ten players with between 20 and 51 Test caps so we also know we will have some very experienced men out there.”

If they're good enough to play at World Cups, then why not in between?

Manu Samoa get their just desserts for an out-thought, out-passioned, ill-prepared and poorly coached campaign. For all the talk of preparing and developing players and game-plans towards this point, the cards came tumbling down and shown up for what it was - a house built on sand.

With all due respect, that must surely be the last we see of Alesana Tuilagi and Ofisa Treviranus in a Manu shirt. Not just on technical ability but for a clear lack of any on-field leadership whatsoever. This is what separates the good, journeyman leaders (and players) from the greats — fronting up and being counted when the occasion and pressure demands it, not retreating into their shells and barking directionless commands which achieve nothing of substance.

What makes this more of a mockery is the fact they will now most likely finish 4th in the pool, meaning they will need to qualify for RWC 2019 via the Oceania repechage which only has 1 spot available but which now also includes Fiji and Tonga (as it stands) vying for the same spot.